Sunday, January 10, 2010

Powder Room Makeover, Phase 1


Last week I mentioned my powder room makeover, but at that point the only thing that had been done was paint. Which was still pretty huge for me, because it’s been builder beige ever since we moved in over 18 months ago. I was beyond thrilled when Craig busted out the paint supplies last weekend.
We used Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage, for one main reason: we had a gallon of it sitting in the basement. Also, as it turned out, of all the colors I was considering, it actually looked best with the Benjamin Moore Natural Linen that is in the adjoining room. So this is now the fourth house in a row in which we have used Silver Sage.

Here is the only before picture I could find, and actually it’s after we put down the vinyl “wood” floor. But you can catch a glimpse of the typical unframed plate mirror which was over the vanity.

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The mirror, of course, had to go. My plan was to use the mirror that belongs to my great-grandmother’s dresser (click on the link for an explanation of the bad photo below).


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Craig hung it over the vanity, and then I got thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to make it look like a piece of furniture! The bracket that attaches the mirror to the dresser was too big for the vanity, and there was no way I was cutting it up. However, as luck would have it, I had this other mirror bracket from a different old dresser that we got out of our neighbor’s trash. It’s been sitting in our basements for the last 8 years.

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This one was also too wide for the vanity, but since there’s no emotional attachment to it, I laid out my plan for Craig and he got out the saw.

First, he pried the strip of molding off the bottom. It was 11” too long for the vanity, so he cut a piece out of the middle, leaving the finished ends intact.

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Then he cut the arms off the bracket. They had to be cut at a certain point to allow the one on the right side to fit between the mirror and the wall.

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A few dabs of Liquid Nails put the whole thing together.

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Now it looks like the bracket is holding the mirror and the whole thing appears to be attached to the vanity. (A piece fell off the top of the mirror in the last move; it’s around here somewhere and we’ll reattach it when we find it.)

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I added a couple of knobs that I got at Hobby Lobby for 50% off, and I think the whole thing really gives the feel of an antique furniture piece! Even if it is a decidedly modern sink and faucet.


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As funds become available, I’d like to change the faucet to something with a more traditional feel. Maybe something like this:


I’ve also got some basic decorating to do, but I’m very happy with my new "antique washstand”!

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Visit thecsiproject.com


57 comments:

A Southern Rose said...

It turned out beautiful! I love it! It makes the new cabinet look older. Great idea!

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Rocio @ Casa Haus said...

It looks great! Can't wait to see the final results.

::cottage instincts:: said...

That is the coolest thing ever. I believe I will feature it in my ::current cottage crush:: later this week.

LOVE! Original and sassy :)

Julie G. said...

love the way it looks!! I have an old dresser with the mirror like that...and I might just have to hang the mirror like that in my daughter's bathroom! BRILLIANT!!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Your vanity mirror is really lovely!

Anonymous said...

Very cool. I like how it looks like the brackets are holding it up.

Pine Tree Home said...

How did you come up with that fabulous idea? It looks stunning!

~Crystal~ said...

Oh my gosh! What a fabulous look for the bathroom! I hope when i have a house I can recreate that somehow. So gorgeous!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Neat!!!! What an awesome way to incorporate a family piece into an area that will be used a lot. I love it! Very creative. :)

Unknown said...

Way cool! The mirror is divine. :)

Erin said...

GREAT idea! You guys did a fantastic job of carrying out the idea. The mirror looks perfect. It totally cracks me up that you had the other mirror base in your basement for 8 years!

Oh, and don't feel bad, my sisters NEVER comment on my blog either!

Angie Holden said...

Oh I love that!!!! I think it really makes that vanity look great!

alanna rose said...

I really, really love this. Great job!

Jocelyn said...

Good heavens girl, this looks fabulous! What a great idea!

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Michelle said...

I think it turned out great, looks very pretty!
Great idea! Xo

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I LOVE this! What a great idea and it's one I've never seen before. So cute!

Manuela

Mama Thompson said...

That looks so great...sure your sisters are glad it is safe:)

Gina said...

What a super idea! I love it, that's a great way to jazz up a simple vanity.

Treasia Stepp said...

What an awesome idea that was. It looks like an old piece now. Work of art.

Laurie Anne said...

I love the mirror. What a cool idea :0)

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

What a great idea! It looks amazing. Genius!

Laura said...

Such a good idea! I just might copy you in my powder room!

Mama Byrd said...

LURVE! I'm a mirror whore LOVE them and this is priceless, can you imagine how "old" your vanity would look with a bowl sink now! UGH the crative juices are flowing Great job!

The Decorating Diaries said...

Great idea!

Janet

Jennifer Juniper said...

That was a brilliant use of that mirror! I love the feeling it creates in that bathroom!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

What a cool idea to use that mirror! I've never seen anything like that in a powder room. The Silver Sage looks great, too. I've been tempted to try it somewhere in my house. Maybe my bedroom. I think it's so pretty!

Ann Marie said...

Love that idea!!! If you have a Habitat Re-Store in your area, keep an eye out for a faucet there. I've found some gems. I got a faucet there for $3 recently! If it's connected to a sink, just ask them to remove it for you and just buy the faucet.

Dusa said...

Brilliant!

Anne said...

I LOVE your mirror idea!!!

KimMalk said...

Don't you love it when a plan comes together? I really like the knobs you found at Hob Lob.

Lindsay @ Not2Us said...

Wow! Kudos! :) I looks GREAT!

Brenda@let'splayhouse said...

Hmmm ....... now you've got me thinking !!!
Great idea. Love the way it turned out.

Katie said...

I love it!!!

Ells said...

Love what you said at the end about your sisters - my family is the same way! Too funny. :)

The mirror looks great! What will you do with the wall above the commode?

Pamela said...

That is such a wonderful idea! Simply gorgeous!

Sarah @ Hennessey House said...

that is SUCH an awesome, clever idea! it adds so much character to the small space. bravo!! :)

Charlene said...

Beautiful Holly! Such a wonderful idea to use the old vanity mirror...I'll have to file it away in my brain to use one day. I love your new faucet idea too, I think it will be the icing on the cake for your powder room :) I have a similar faucet on the sink in our main bath, and I just adore the knobs!

Mr. and Mrs. Q said...

I'm not too much into antiques but I have to say that was VERY creative and yes it looks like a FANTASTIC antique wash stand!

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

It looks like it's always been there! It turned out beautifully. Great job!

Angie said...

That is one of the cutest ideas I have seen in a long time! It truly does look like a piece of furniture!

AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage said...

Wow - very unique and creative! I love "out of the box" ideas like that that turn something ordinary into something amazing and unexpected. Great job!

Fawn said...

What a great idea! The lines of the mirror are so pretty and feminine.

Lisa Porter said...

Ok...this is quite possibly my mostest favorite idea ever for those lovely vanities! Wasn't getting the builder mirror off the wall fun?!? I was sure we were either going to pull all the drywall off of our wall OR slash ourselves to bits! Congratulation on using something old to add character to something new! I love Silver Sage. Had it in a master bed & bath suite once and it was so pretty! Love your comment about family readers...have a few of those myself.
Great project!
Lisa

Barbara said...

I love this!
I'm looking for ways to "jazz" up my house before putting it up for sale. There are so many homes in my development, I need something to differencient my house from the others.
Barbara

Shannan Martin said...

Fantastic idea!! Looks so lovely. And seriously, why is it always the sisters who don't comment? You're so right - how are we to really know for sure? ;)

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

I like it! Silver sage is such a good color. I've been itching to use it in my house, but have yet to find the right room that can handle the gray in it. Looks fab in your bathroom for sure!

Mandy Ford Art & Illustration said...

Love this! What a unique idea for the mirror. I've been collecting ideas for our half bath and you have inspired me!

Beth said...

It looks so nice! What a great idea for the mirror.

homebody0404 said...

Oh Holly!! I want one just like that! Now I know how to get one!! Thanks for your post and your DIY project is absolutely awesome!!

Roeshel said...

It's fantastic Holly! I LOVE it!

Roeshel

Peggy said...

hoe clever! I never would have thought to do that with the mirror.

Erin said...

Oh, I love it, Holly. I love that you have made something wonderful without buying it all new. No one else has the exact same thing, and it's so creative!

Wendy said...

Your powder room looks fantastic, Holly!! I'm so happy that you have something beautiful to look at and enjoy, and yet I'm also happy that you didn't have to chop up Grandma's dresser to get it!:-) And now that I've shocked you by commenting on your blog, I'll go find something to repurpose in MY house!

Unknown said...

What an AWESOME idea, I love it. thanks for linking up!

KV Creative Designs said...

I love what you did with the Bathroom Mirror. My grandmother also had that dresser and mirror! I wish I had it. :( Great Job!

Happy New Year & Artful Blessings,
Kathryn

Adrienne of Noon To Two and Handmade By Ade Etsy Shops said...

I'm going to have the furniture vanity in my new bathroom someday. I love, love, love your idea to "make" one. Always love your blog! Great job.

Delchick42 said...

All I can say is WOW! I am so impressed with this idea!! Fantastic. I want to copy lol. Thanks for sharing this.